Jodensavanne Monument
UNESCO World Heritage in the Para Jungle
Along the Suriname River, deep in the rainforest of Para, lies a place with no equal anywhere in the world. Jodensavanne was the only village ever wholly owned, governed and inhabited by Jews — founded in the 1680s, in the middle of the Surinamese jungle.
What remains are foundations, two of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the Americas and an Afro-Creole burial ground — silent witnesses to a community that flourished here for more than 150 years. Jodensavanne has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023.
Why Jodensavanne is unique:
- The only village in the world ever wholly owned, governed and inhabited by Jews
- Two of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the Americas
- The starting point of a 94-kilometre military defence line, built to protect the plantations against Maroon attacks
- People of African descent were legally admitted into the Jewish community — a remarkable story of cultures meeting
- Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023
Want to experience Jodensavanne properly? Eco Resort Miano is nearby and combines a stay in the middle of nature with a guided excursion to this remarkable place.
Highlights
The only Jewish village of its kind in the world
The starting point of a 94-kilometre military defence line
Where two cultures met
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023
Photos
Grietjebie tip
Hire a local guide — Jodensavanne doesn’t tell its story unprompted. With the right person beside you the history properly comes alive.
Practical Info
Address
Para district, by the Suriname River
Atmosphere
History and nature
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